Wire nail, strip of collated wire nails, and related apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wire nail with a head having a circumferential edge conforming to a complete circle and disposed in a radially offset relationship with respect to a shank. A flat surface on defined upon the shank provides a datum indicating where the shank is located. A flat surface on the shank provides a datum for orienting such nail and similar nails. In some embodiments, a tangent plane defined by means of a lower or underside portion of the head is oriented at an acute angle (75° to 85°) relative to the shank. In a strip of such (collated) nails, the flat surfaces defined upon the shanks define an open channel, which coacts with a rib integrally provided upon one wall of a nail-feeding mechanism. In a nail-making machine, two gripping members defining an annular recess and a punch are used to form such a nail from a wire of a malleable metal.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to wire nails, as used in pneumatically powerednail-driving tools, and to strips of such nails, as collated by means ofadhesively applied tapes or other collating media. This inventionprovides wire nails having radially offset, circular heads and otherunique features. Moreover, it pertains to related apparatus, as used tomake such nails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, as used in pneumatically powered or combustion-powerednail-driving tools, wire nails having D-shaped or variant heads arecollated by means of adhesively applied tapes or other collating mediaso as to form a strip. The shanks of the collated nails are oriented ina closely spaced, parallel relationship with respect to one another and,except at one end of the strip, the head of each nail overlies the headof another nail.

Various strips of collated wire nails having D-shaped heads areexemplified in Lingle U.S. Pat. No. 3,152,334, Leistner U.S. Pat. No.3,861,526, and Shelton et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,042. Powers U.S. Pat.No. 3,359,582 discloses a die assembly for making a wire nail havingsuch a head. Similar strips of collated wire nails having variant headsare exemplified in Juilfs U.S. Pat. No. 2,940,081 and Becht U.S. Pat.No. 3,481,459. None of the D-shaped or variant heads disclosed in theforegoing patents defines a complete circle when viewed axially.

For reasons of aesthetics and performance, it would be highly desirableto have a strip of collated nails wherein the shanks of the nails wouldbe disposed in a closely spaced, parallel relationship with respectrelation to one another and wherein, except at one end of the strip, thehead of each nail would overlie the head of another nail, and whereinfurther the head of each nail would define a complete circle when viewedaxially.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One feature of a wire nail constructed according to this invention isthat the head of the nail has a circumferential edge conforming to acomplete circle and defining an wherein the axis of the head is radiallyoffset with respect to the axis of the shank of the nail. Thus, ascontrasted with the D-shaped and variant heads of the wire nailsdisclosed in the aforenoted patents, the head of a wire nail constructedaccording to this invention defines a complete circle when viewedaxially.

A wire nail constructed according to this invention may have structureproviding a locating datum for indicating where the shank is locatedafter such nail has been driven into a substrate in such a manner thatthe shank is concealed. The locating datum facilitates removal of thewire nail from the substrate, by means of a nail-prying tool having aforked tip, by indicating in what direction the forked tip can beeffectively inserted beneath the head of the nail so that thenail-prying tool can apply substantially equal leverage to oppositesides of the head.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment of such a nail, a top portion of thehead has two planar surfaces spaced from the shank, namely a firstsurface providing the datum and a second surface intersecting the firstsurface along a line extending across the head. The first surface isoriented at an obtuse, included angle (such as, for example,approximately 168°) relative to the second surface and the secondsurface is oriented at a right angle relative to the axis of the head.

A lower portion of such a nail may have a cavity, which is bordered bymeans of an annular rib where the shank joins the head. The cavity tendsto coact with a substrate, into which the nail is driven, so as tostabilize the nail head in a lateral sense.

In some embodiments, a lower portion of the head defines a tangentplane, which is oriented at a right angle relative to the axis of thehead, and at an acute angle relative to the axis of the shank,preferably an acute angle within the range from approximately 75° toapproximately 85°. Advantageously, because of the acute angle, the wirenail may have greater holding capability.

It is a preferred feature of the wire nail constructed according to thisinvention that the shank is formed with a keyway, which defines a flatsurface providing an orienting datum for orienting such nail and similarnails with their shanks in parallel relation to one another and withtheir heads offset in a common direction.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the flat surface of the keyway isparallel to the axis of the shank. Moreover, such surface maysubstantially conform to a parallelogram having two axially extendingsides and two transversely extending sides, and such sides may definetwo acute angles and two obtuse angles.

As contemplated by means of this invention, a strip of similar,collated, wire nails is made by adhesively applying tapes to the shanksof such nails for collating such nails, or by suitably applying othercollating media thereto, so as to collate such nails with their shanksoriented in a closely spaced, parallel relationship with respect to oneanother, and with their heads offset in a common direction relative totheir shanks, so that the head of one such nail overlies the head of thenext nail.

Moreover, the keyways noted above collectively define an open channelextending along the strip. The open channel may be advantageously usedto guide the strip through a nail-feeding magazine having, on one wall,a lateral rib fitting into the open channel.

An important use of the keyways in collating the nails is disclosed in acopending application filed simultaneously herewith, under U.S. Ser. No.07/597,022, and assigned commonly herewith. The copending application isentitled "Machine and Method for Collating Wire Nails Having ShankKeyways." The disclosure of the copending application is incorporatedherein by reference.

It is contemplated by means of this invention that in a machine formaking a wire nail from a wire of a malleable metal (such as, forexample, carbon steel) improved wire-gripping and head-formingmechanisms are combined. Thus, the wire-gripping mechanism includes twogripping elements adapted to grip the wire therebetween in such a mannerthat one end of the wire projects from the gripping elements. The wiredefines an axis where gripped. Also, the head-forming mechanism isdesigned so as to form a head by deforming some of the malleable metalincluding the projecting end in such a manner that the head has acircumferential edge, which may conform to a complete circle, in aradially offset relationship with respect to the axis defined by meansof the wire where gripped.

It is preferred that each of the gripping elements has a recess out fromwhich the projecting end projects. The recesses collectively define acavity having an axis disposed in a radially offset relationship withrespect to the axis defined by means of the wire where gripped.Preferably, moreover, the nail head-forming mechanism includes a punchwhich is adapted to deform some of the malleable metal including theprojecting end of the wire into a shape defined by means of the punchand by means of the cavity. Furthermore, the recess of each of thegripping elements may include an annular channel, whereupon the annularchannels coact to define an annular rib upon the malleable metal whichis deformed by means of the punch into such shape.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment which comprises a combination of theaforenoted mechanisms, the punch has a cylindrical tip defining an axisand is axially movable into the cavity. One end of the cylindrical tiphas two planar surfaces intersecting at a vee extending across thecylindrical tip, namely a first surface and a second surface. The firstsurface is oriented at an obtuse, included angle (such as, for example,approximately about 168°) relative to the second surface and the secondsurface is oriented at a right angle relative to the axis of the punch.The first surface leads the second surface when the cylindrical tip ismoved axially into the annular recess and is designed to laterallydeform some of the malleable metal including the projecting end of thewire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention willbecome evident from the following description of different embodimentsof this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichlike reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a strip of collated wire, nailsaccording to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2, on a slightly enlarged scale compared to that of FIG. 1, is asectional view taken through one of the wire nails, along line 2--2 ofFIG. 1, in a direction indicated by means of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken through the same nail, along line 3--3of FIG. 2, in a direction indicated by means of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the strip shown in FIG. 1. Portions ofthe shanks of the wire nails, between the tips of such nails and twocollating tapes, have been omitted.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational view of one of the wire nails andthe collating tapes, as taken from one side of the strip shown in FIGS.1 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken through the strip, along line 6--6 ofFIG. 4, in a direction indicated by means of the arrows.

FIGS. 7 through 12, on a somewhat smaller scale as compared to that ofFIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 6, and FIG. 13, on an intermediate scale, aresequential, fragmentary views of one of two gripping elements and anassociated punch, as used to form a nail head upon an end of the wireused to form a wire nail according to the preferred embodiment of thisinvention. A portion of the punch, the head being formed, and anadjacent portion of the wire are shown in cross-section in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken through the nail being formed, alongline 14-14 of FIG. 13, in a direction indicated by means of the arrows.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken through the gripping elements, thepunch, and the nail being formed, along line 15--15 of FIG. 13, in adirection indicated by means of the arrows.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, elevational view of one of the grippingelements, namely the gripping element not shown in FIG. 13, as taken inan axial direction relative to a wire which is to be gripped by means ofthe gripping elements.

FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the gripping element shown in FIG. 16,as taken to show its gripping face.

FIG. 18 is a greatly enlarged detail view taken from FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a greatly enlarged detail view taken from FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary, partly exploded view of the strip of collatedwire nails, as associated with a nail-feeding magazine of a nail-drivingtool. The nail-feeding magazine is shown in a simplified representation.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken through thenail-feeding magazine, so as to show one such nail being fed through thenail-feeding magazine.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along line 22--22in FIG. 21, in a direction indicated by means of the arrows.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one such nail, as driveninto a wooden board, and as associated with a nail-prying tool having aforked tip.

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a wire nail according toan alternate embodiment of this invention, as used to join two woodenmembers, which are shown in cross-section.

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the nail shown in FIG. 24,as taken from a different side.

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a wire nail according to asimplified embodiment of this invention, as used to join two woodenmembers, which are shown in cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

While certain embodiments of this invention are illustrated in thedrawings and are described below, it is to be here understood that thisinvention is not limited to those embodiments.

A strip S of collated wire nails 10, each formed according to apreferred embodiment of this invention, is shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and6.

An exemplary nail 10 is described below. The nail 10 has a unique head12, by means of which the nail 10 is distinguished from wire nails knownheretofore, and other unique features.

The nail 10 has a shank 14 integral with the head 12. The shank 14defines an axis and has a tip 16. Preferably, as shown, the tip 16conforms to the unique tip disclosed in Sygnator U.S. Pat. No.4,927,309, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.Alternatively, the shank 12 may have a conventional tip (not shown)having four facets.

It is a feature of this invention that the head 12 has a circumferentiale edge 20 conforming to a complete circle and defining an axis which isradially offset with respect to the axis of the shank 14. Thus, in otherwords, the head 12 is radially offset in one direction relative to theshank 14.

As contrasted with the D-shaped and variant heads disclosed in thevarious patents noted in the third paragraph above, the head 12 definesa complete circle when viewed axially. Thus, the head 12 offers a betterappearance when viewed axially. In addition, the head 12 may offergreater holding capability when the wire nail 10 is used to join twosubstrates, such as, for example, wooden boards.

The head 12, at a top portion, has two planar surfaces spaced from theshank 14, namely a first surface 22 and a second surface 24. The secondsurface 24 intersects the first surface 22 along a crest 26, whichextends across the head 12, which has a small radius (approximately0.093 inch) and which is shorter than the diameter of the completecircle defined by means of the circumferential edge 20 of the head 12.The first surface 22 is oriented at an obtuse, included angle ofapproximately 168° relative to the second surface 24 and the secondsurface 24 is oriented at a right angle relative to the axis of theshank 14.

As shown in FIG. 24, the first surface 22 provides an indicating datumindicating where the shank 14 is located after the wire nail 10 has beendriven into a wooden board B or some other substrate (not shown) in sucha manner that the shank 14 is concealed. The datum provided by means ofthe first surface 22 facilitates removal of the wire nail 10 from theboard B or other substrate, by means of a nail-prying tool having aforked tip T, by indicating in what direction the forked tip T can beeffectively inserted beneath the head 12 so that the nail-prying toolcan apply substantially equal leverage to opposite sides of the head 12.

The shank 14 is formed with a keyway 28 defining a flat surface 30,which is disposed within a plane which is parallel to the axis of theshank 14 and to the direction of radial offset of the head 12 relativeto the shank 14, and which is axially spaced beneath the head 12. Theflat surface 30 conforms to a parallelogram having two longer, axiallyextending sides 32, 34, and two shorter, transversely extending sides36, 38. These longer and shorter sides define two acute angles (such as,for example, approximately 34° each) and two obtuse angles (such as, forexample, approximately 146° each) as shown.

The keyway 28 is bounded by means of two flat surfaces 40, 42, whichrespectively intersect the flat surface 30 at the shorter sides 36, 38.The flat surface 40 is bounded by means of the side 36 and by means of acurved edge 44 and is oriented at an angle of approximately 45° relativeto the axis of the shank 14. The flat surface 42 is bounded by means ofthe side 38 and by means of a curved edge 46 and is oriented at an angleof approximately 45° relative to the axis of the shank 14 and at a rightangle relative to the flat surface 40.

The keyway 28 provides a datum for orienting the collated nails 10 withtheir shanks 14 disposed parallel to one another and with their heads 12offset in a common direction relative to their shanks 14.

Within an underside region, the head 12 of the nail 10 has a cavity 50,which is bordered by means of an annular rib 52 except where the shank14 joins the head 12. As contrasted with a head (not shown) that isplanar at its lower portion, the head 12 tends to be less prone toseparating from the shank 14, particularly if the head 12 is struck at alocalized region spaced from the shank 14, such as, for example, wheresuggested by means of the downwardly directed wide arrow in FIG. 2.Moreover, the cavity 50 tends to coact with a substrate, into which thenail 10 is driven, so as to stabilize the nail head 12 in a lateralsense.

At the annular rib 52, the lower portion of the head 12 defines atangent plane, which is oriented at a right angle relative to the axisof the head 12, and at a right angle relative to the shank 14. Thepreferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 and other views may thusbe distinguished from an alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 24 and 25,and from a simplified embodiment shown in FIG. 26.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the collated nails 10 of the strip S arecollated by means of conventional collating tapes 62, 64, appliedadhesively to opposite sides of the shanks 14 of the collated nails 10,in parallel relation to the flat surfaces 30 defined by means of thekeyways 28 upon the shanks 14 of the collated nails 10. The collatingtapes 62, 64, are oriented at an acute angle (such as, for example,approximately 36°) relative to a plane normal to the axes of the shanks14 of the collated nails 10 so as to be substantially parallel to theshorter sides 36, 38, of such flat surfaces 30.

The nails 10 in the strip S are collated in such a manner that theirshanks 14 are oriented in a closely spaced, parallel relationship withrespect to one another, whereby their shanks 14 may be nearly contiguousto one another. The nails 10 in the strip S are collated in such amanner that their heads 12 are offset in a common direction relative totheir shanks 14 and in such a manner that, except at one end of thestrip S (its right end in FIG. 4) where the nail 10 to be first or nextdriven is located, the head 12 of each nail 10 overlies the head 12 ofanother nail 10.

Collectively, as shown, the keyways 28 defined upon the shanks 14 of thecollated nails 10 define an open channel 66, which extends along thestrip S. As shown in FIGS. 20, 21, and 22, the open channel 66 is usefulin guiding the strip S through a nail-feeding magazine 70 having twoopposed walls 72, 74, and other structures (not shown) of known types toa pneumatically powered or combustion-powered nail-driving tool (notshown) of a known type.

The wall 72 facing the keyways 28 has an integral, lateral rib 76disposed within the open channel 66, whereby the rib 76 guides the stripS as the strip S is fed through the nail-feeding magazine 70.

As explained above, an important use of such keyways in collating suchnails is disclosed in the aforementioned, copending application, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Manufacture of an exemplary nail 10 is described below. The wire nail 10is formed from a wire of a malleable metal, such as, for example, carbonsteel, which is preferred. The wire nail 10 can be effectively formed ina nail-making machine of a known type, such as, for example, a WafiosModel N51 Nail-Making Machine, as available commercially from WafiosMaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG of Reutingen, Federal Republic of Germany.Such a nail-making machine employs coactive wire-gripping andhead-forming mechanisms. It is contemplated by means of this inventionthat, in such a nail-making machine, improved wire-gripping andhead-forming mechanisms are employed in a coactive combination.

The wire-gripping mechanism comprises two gripping elements 100, 102, asseen, for example, in FIG. 15, which are made from tool steel, and whichare arranged for relative movement toward and away from each other. Thegripping element 100 is stationary and the gripping element 102 ismovable. The gripping elements 100, 102, are adapted to grip a wire W(from which the wire nail 10 is made) in such a manner that one end W'of the wire W projects from the gripping elements 100, 102. The grippingelements 100, 102, respectively have semi-cylindrical channels 104, 106defined therein, which are shaped to receive the wire W when the movableelement 102 is moved into its contiguous relationship with respect tothe stationary element 100. The wire W defines an axis where gripped andthe projecting end W' projects axially.

The gripping elements 100, 102, respectively have recesses 110, 112,where the projecting end W' of the wire W projects. The recess 110communicates with the semi-cylindrical channel 104. The recess 112communicates with the semi-cylindrical channel 106. Collectively, therecesses 110, 112, coact to define a cavity, which has an axis which isradially offset with respect to the axis defined by means of the wire Wwhere gripped.

The recess 110 includes an annular channel 114. The recess 112 includesan annular channel 116. When the recesses 110, 112, coact to define thecavity, the annular channels 114, 116, correspond to the annular rib 52of the head 12 of the nail 10 being made.

The semi-cylindrical channel 106 of the movable element 102 isinterrupted by means of a nub 120, which is integral with the movableelement 102, and which is shaped so as to form the flat surface 30 andthe flat surfaces 40, 42, along a portion of the wire W to become theshank 14 of the wire nail 10 being made. The nub 120 forms thesesurfaces by deforming some of the malleable material of the wire W, asthe movable element 102 is moved into its contiguous relationship withrespect to the stationary element 100. The nub 120 has a flat surface122 corresponding to the flat surface 30, a flat surface 124corresponding to the flat surface 40, and a flat surface 126corresponding to the flat surface 42.

The head-forming mechanism comprises a punch 130, which is made fromtool steel, and which is adapted to deform some of the malleable metalincluding the projecting end W' of the wire W into a shape defined bymeans of the punch 130 and by means of the cavity defined by means ofthe recesses 110, 112, that is, into the shape of the head 12 of thewire nail 10 being made.

The punch 130 has a cylindrical tip 132, which defines an axis, andwhich conforms closely to the cavity defined by means of the recesses110, 112, and which is movable axially into such cavity. The end of thecylindrical tip 132 has two planar surfaces, namely a first surface 134and a second surface 136 intersecting the first surface 134 at a vee 138extending across the cylindrical tip 132. The vee 138 has a slightradius (such as, for example, approximately 0.093 inch) and is shorterthan a diameter of the cylindrical tip 132. The first surface 134 isoriented at an obtuse, included angle of approximately 168° relative tothe second surface 136 and the second surface 136 is oriented at a rightangle relative to the axis of the punch 130. Thus, as shown atsequential stages in FIGS. 7 through 13, the first surface 134 leads thesecond surface 136 and is designed to deform some of the malleable metalincluding the projecting end W' of the wire W laterally, whereby thedeformed metal fills inner reaches of the cavity defined by means of therecesses 110, 112.

When the projecting end W' of the wire W is formed into the head 12 ofthe wire nail 10 being made, the first surface 22 of the head 12conforms closely to the first surface 134 of the end of the cylindricaltip 132 of the punch 130. Moreover, the second surface 24 of the head 12conforms closely to the second surface 136 of the end of the cylindricaltip 132 of the punch 130. Furthermore, the annular rib 52 of the head 12conforms closely to the annular channels 114, 116.

An alternate embodiment of this invention is disclosed in FIGS. 24 and25, in which primed reference numbers are used to designate elementssimilar or analogous to elements designated by similar, unprimedreference numbers in FIG. 1 and other views.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, a wire nail 10' according to thealternate embodiment of this invention has a head 12', which conforms tothe head 12 of the wire nail 10. Also, the wire nail 10' has a shank14', which is similar to the shank 14 of the wire nail 10 except asexplained herein. Thus, the shank 14' has a keyway 28' with flatsurfaces 30', 40', 42', which correspond respectively to the keyway 28with flat surfaces 30, 40, 42, defined upon the shank 14 of the wirenail 10. Also, the shank 14' is formed with a tip 16', which conforms tothe tip 16 of the wire nail 10 and to the unique tip disclosed in theSygnator patent noted above.

Upon an underside portion, the head 12' of the wire nail 10' defines atangent plane, which is oriented at a right angle relative to the axisof the head 12', but at an acute angle relative to the axis of the shank14'. Preferably, as shown, the acute angle is within the range fromapproximately 75° to approximately 85°. Advantageously, as compared tothe preferred embodiment described above, the wire nail 10' may havegreater holding capability when driven through an upper substrate B₁,such as, for example, a wooden board, into a lower substrate B₂, suchas, for example, a wooden board.

A wire nail 10" according to a simplified embodiment of this inventionis shown in FIG. 26, as driven through an upper substrate B₁, such as,for example, a wooden board, into a lower substrate B₂, such as, forexample, a wooden board. In FIG. 26, double-primed reference numbers areused to designate elements similar or analogous to elements designatedby similar, unprimed reference numbers in FIGS. 1 through 6 and otherviews.

The wire nail 10" has a head 12", which defines an axis, and a shank14", which defines an axis, and which is joined integrally with the head12". The head 12" is similar to the heads of wire nails (not shown) incommon use. The shank 14" is similar to the shanks of such nails. Thewire nail 10" has a tip (not shown) similar to the tips of such nails.However, the wire nail 10" is similar to the wire nail 10' describedabove and differs from wire nails in common use in that, upon anunderside portion, the head 12" defines a tangent plane, which isoriented at a right angle relative to the axis of the head 12", but atan acute angle relative to the axis of the shank 14".

Various modifications may be made in the illustrated embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, thepresent invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed herein.

We claim:
 1. A strip of similar, collated, wire nails, wherein:each nailhas a head and a shank integral with said head; said shank of each nailbeing formed with a tip and having a longitudinal axis; said head havinga circumferential edge conforming to a complete circle and defining anaxis which is radially offset with respect to said axis of said shank;said nails being collated by means applied to said shanks so as to holdsaid shanks in a parallel relationship with respect to one another; saidshanks having peripheral portions thereof disposed substantiallytangential to respective circumferential edge portions of said headssuch that said heads are offset in a common direction relative to theirrespective shanks so that the head of one of said nails overlies thehead of a succeeding nail disposed within said collated strip.
 2. Thestrip of claim 1 wherein each nail has means for providing a datumindicating where the shank of such nail is located after such nail hasbeen driven into a substrate in such manner that the shank of such nailis concealed.
 3. The strip of claim 1 wherein the head of each nail hasan upper portion with two planar surfaces, namely a first surface and asecond surface intersecting the first surface along a crest extendingacross the head of such nail, the first surface being oriented at anobtuse, included angle relative to the second surface, the secondsurface being oriented at a right angle relative to the axis of theshank of such nail, the first surface providing a datum indicating wherethe shank of such nail is located after such nail has been driven into asubstrate in such manner that the shank of such nail is concealed. 4.The strip of claim 3 wherein the included angle is approximately 168°.5. The strip of claim 1 wherein the head of each nail has a lowerportion defining a tangent plane, which is oriented at a right anglerelative to the axis of the head of such nail, and at an acute anglerelative to the axis of the shank of such nail.
 6. The strip of claim 5wherein the acute angle is within a range from approximately 75° toapproximately 85°.
 7. The strip of claim 1 wherein the head of each nailhas a lower portion having a cavity, which is bordered by means of anannular rib except where the shank of such nail adjoins the head of suchnail.
 8. The strip of claim 1 wherein the shank of each nail is formedwith a keyway, which defines a flat surface providing a datum fororienting such nail and the other nails in the strip with their shanksoriented in parallel with respect to each other and with their headsoffset in a common direction, and wherein the keyways of the collatednails collectively define an open channel extending along the strip. 9.The strip of claim 8 wherein the flat surface of the keyway of the shankof each nail is parallel to the axis of the shank of such nail.
 10. Thestrip of claim 9 wherein the flat surface of the keyway of the shank ofeach nail conforms to a parallelogram having two axially extending sidesand two transversely extending sides.
 11. The strip of claim 10 wherein,on each nail, said two axially extending and two transversely extendingsides define two acute angles and two obtuse angles.
 12. A wire nail,comprising:a head; and a shank integral with said head; said shank beingformed with a tip and a having a longitudinal axis; wherein said headhas a circumferential edge defining a complete circle and said shank hasa peripheral portion which is substantially tangential to acircumferential edge portion of said head such that an axis of said headis radially offset with respect to said axis of said shank so as topermit a plurality of nails to be disposed adjacent to one another in acompact manner.
 13. The wire nail of claim 12 having means for providinga datum indicating where the shank is located after said nail has beendriven into a substrate in such manner that the shank is concealed. 14.The wire nail of claim 12 wherein the head has an upper portion with twoplanar surfaces, namely a first surface and a second surfaceintersecting the first surface along a crest extending across the head,the first surface being oriented at an obtuse, included angle relativeto the second surface, the second surface being oriented at a rightangle relative to the axis of the shank, the first surface providing adatum indicating where the shank is located after said nail has beendriven into a substrate in such manner that the shank is concealed. 15.The wire nail of claim 14 wherein the included angle is approximately168°.
 16. The wire nail of claim 12 wherein the head has a lower portiondefining a tangent plane, which is oriented at an acute angle relativeto the axis of the shank.
 17. The wire nail of claim 16 wherein theacute angle in a range from approximately 75° to approximately 85°. 18.The wire nail of claim 12 wherein the head has a lower portion having acavity, which is bordered by means of an annular rib except where theshank adjoins the head.
 19. The wire nail of claim 12 wherein the shankis formed with a keyway, which defines a flat surface providing a datumfor orienting said nail and similar nails with their shanks oriented inparallel relation with respect to one another and with their headsoffset in a common direction.
 20. The wire nail of claim 19 wherein theflat surface is disposed parallel to the axis of the shank.
 21. The wirenail of claim 20 wherein the flat surface conforms to a parallelogramhaving two axially extending sides and two transversely extending sides.22. The wire nail of claim 21 wherein said two axially extending and twotransversely extending sides define two acute angles and two obtuseangles.
 23. A wire nail, comprising:a head; and a shank integral withsaid head; said shank being formed with a tip and defining alongitudinal axis; said head having a circumferential edge conforming toa complete circle and having an axis, said head also having a lowerportion defining a tangent plane which is oriented at a right anglerelative to said axis of said head and at an acute angle relative tosaid shank, said shank having a peripheral portion which issubstantially tangential to a circumferential edge portion of said headsuch that said axis of said head is radially offset with respect to saidaxis of said shank so as to permit compact accommodation of said nailswithin a nail strip.
 24. The wire nail of claim 23 wherein the acuteangle is within a range from approximately 75° to approximately 85°.